Sexual Abuse, Trauma and Dementia in the Elderly: A Retrospective Study of 284 Cases

The study objective was to compare elders with a dementia with those without a dementia as to method of disclosure of sexual abuse, forensic markers of sexual abuse and legal outcome of cases. A convenience sample was obtained of 284 forensic cases known to a multidisciplinary group of professionals who investigated, examined or consulted on elder sexual abuse victims. The Comprehensive Sexual Assault Assessment (CSAAT) was used to enter data from case files. 60 percent of the 284 elders were diagnosed with some degree of dementia. Elders with dementia, compared to those without a diagnosis, were abused more often by persons known to them (family member, caregiver or another nursing home resident) than a stranger, presented behavior cues of distress rather than verbal disclosures, were easily confused and verbally manipulated, and were beaten. Suspects who were identified whom abused elders with dementia had less chance of being arrested, indicted or plea bargained. All reported suspected cases of elder sexual abuse need a complete physical examination as well as a sexual assault evidence kit. Patterns of verbal, behavioral or physical changes of elders can be used to support an allegation of sexual assault.     

Bringing eBay into line

As the largest and best-known internet auction service providerin the global village, eBay has become an immensely popularfacility for offering goods for sale before the widest audience.The advantages of eBay are that it provides a forum for thesale of niche goods where prospective purchasers are difficultto target; by cutting out the retailer (and his mark-up) itenables goods to be sold more cheaply; it is almost impossibleto police effectively; and also provides a veil of anonymity     

A bid for recognition

Last year this journal carried a note¹ on the world's firstauction of intellectual property rights, held in San Franciscobefore the full glare of publicity. Like the Wright Brothers'first manned flight more than a century before it, the firstmanned IP auction attracted a mixture of responses. From thecynical and from those whose interests are served by more traditionalmeans of matching IP vendor and purchaser came words of criticism     

Good stuff, shame about the bad press

A poll of readers of this journal would probably indicate ahigh level of support for the principle that IP should be protected;an awareness of its role in the development and exploitationof new products and services; a belief in its inherent fairnessin balancing the moral and economic needs of its owners andtheir competitors; and a conviction that IP was a positive forcefor the betterment of the world we presently     

When the figures just don't figure

Last year I received from Jean Pire (Gevers & Partners,Belgium) some data concerning the success rate of litigantsin Office for Harmonisation (OHIM) proceedings involving Communitytrade marks and applications. These figures, drawn from Gevers'database of Board of Appeal, Opposition Division and CancellationDivision decisions, provide food for thought. A curious statistic is the rate at which parties to OHIM proceedingsfail to comply     

Strength or weakness?

Doing the electronic rounds, at the tail end of 2007, was amuch-forwarded email circular concerning an article in the 7November issue of China Intellectual Property News by YongshunCheng. The author, a former senior judge and deputy directorof the Intellectual Property Division of the Beijing High People'sCourt, currently directs the Beijing Intellectual Property Institute. According to this circular the article, translated into English,argues that the proposed US patent reform bill     

Obviousness and IP: time to reconsider

On 6 February, the day this editorial was written, the UnitedKingdom Patent Office surprised members of the local intellectualproperty professions when it launched an unexpected discussionpaper, Consultation on the Inventive Step Requirement in UnitedKingdom Patent Law and Practice and sought informed responseby 31 May. On the assumption that the provisions of patent law are intendedto reflect a balance between the complementary